The Blog

5 Ways God Helps Us Make a Plan for Success!

New Years Resolution, Goal Setting and Fitness Challenges are all the hype at the beginning of each year. Making resolutions for healthier living, setting goals and signing up for challenges are great, but will never be successful without making a plan or a strategy.

Goals are great. They give us a focus, a direction and motivate us to move into a positive direction. They initiate growth and help us reach something we thought wasn’t attainable.

Do you desire financial freedom? Dave Ramsey Financial Peace guru has a financial success plan for you. Are you a writer that has been wanting to write a book? Chances are Michael Hyatt who has developed Platform University has the keys for success that you need. Do you want to become a better parent? Drs. Fay have developed Love and Logic parenting strategies that take the struggle out of discipline. Do you want to develop healthier habits of living without feeling overwhelmed? Rick Warren has written the Daniel Plan that focuses on Faith, Family, Fitness and Food.

When we set goals, we turn to the experts for advice. In goal setting and planning, there is no better expert than God.

Did you know in the Bible, God gives us instructions of how to use our time wisely and write a plan for our goals? He provides scripture of how we can be successfully achieve our goals.

Setting our goals is just the first step. ​Initiating a clear cut plan will set us up for long term success.

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” Proverbs 16:9

Here are 5 Ways that God helps us to make a Plan for our Goals-1. Write them Down- We have to start somewhere. Put the pen to the paper and start writing. A goal becomes a reality when we write them out. “Write down the vision and make it plain on tablets, For still the vision awaits its appointed time; If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:2-3). Do a yearly review. Ask yourself what areas did I succeed in? What areas do I still need to work on? I separate my goals into 5 categories; relationships, time, health, career and money. This gives a better vision for our goals.

2. Pray for your Goals- When setting goals, ask God what are the desires he has for our hearts? “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” Psalm 37:4. Set personal goals. God has given all of us certain skills and talents to be able to achieve our goals. Allowing room for God’s plan to take place, allows Him to work within you. Once your goals have been written, keep your goal list nearby and continually pray over them for the upcoming year.

3. Be Intentional- When writing goals, be specific and purposeful. This will allow our goals to have vision and direction. Give your goals an attainable and measurable outcome. “Plans of the diligent leads to profit.” (Proverbs 21:5). Give your goals a realistic time frame, be diligent and your work will pay off in the long run.

4. Prioritize- Review your goals and star 1-2 of them that are highest priority or most important to start working on first. This always helps me focus of which goals to start working on first. No one gets anywhere by being lazy or taking on more than they can handle. To make our goals a reality, they take proper planning, commitment, dedication and motivation. Giving our targeted goals the quality time they need will set us up for success in the future. “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4).

5. Make a Schedule- Let’s be real. Time is time, it can’t be changed. The time we have is all we have, we can’t buy more of it. When setting goals, be realistic with your time commitments. The best way to be successful in reaching our goals, is to schedule time in our calendars and stick with it. Make goals a priority and we will reap the rewards of attaining them.

Most importantly, plan time with God, put him in your schedule, but let him do the planning. Scheduling time with God will be the best plan of our life. For He knows the plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11).

What goal planning tips set you up for success?

What Goals Would you like to Accomplish in the New Year?

​God isn’t interested in us becoming better, He wants us to be better than EVER!

Our goals become a reality with prayer, proper planning, prioritizing them and making a schedule. Get out your pens and start writing your goals!!!!

What word describes your upcoming year? Join me next week and we will talk about what our word is and how to make a strategic prayer plan that will set us up for a successful new year! I want to hear what your goals are and what word you picked!!!

About Heather Gillis

Heather received her master's degree in Nurse Anesthesia at Villanova University. She works full time as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist at a surgery center in Alaska. She is author of "Waiting for Heaven: Finding Beauty in the Pain and the Struggle," and a contributor for "Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Joy of Less." She also writes weekly Christian devotionals on her blog www.heathergillis.com. Heather and her husband Mac, reside in Alaska with their two living children. When she is not working, writing, or taking care of the house, you can find Heather running the trails, reading, taking the kids to gymnastics and choir, crafting with her daughter, building legos with their son, camping with her family, spending time with friends or volunteering wherever God takes her! To read her blog, learn more about Heather and her ministry visit www.heathergillis.com.

The evening Women’s class is held on Mondays from 6:30-8:00 pm at CrossPoint church located next to Burlington Coat Factory at 1920 W. Dimond Blvd. Children ages 6-18 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week so it makes for great discussion at the dinner table! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/32 to join this Women’s class.

The evening Men’s class is held on Mondays from 6:55-8:15 pm at Faith Christian Community church located at 4240 Wisconsin Street in the Turnagain area. Children ages 6-18 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/31 to join this Men’s class.

The Women’s day class is held on Thursdays from 9:25-11:00 am downtown at First Baptist Church located at 1100 W. 10th Avenue downtown. Children ages 0-5 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week and yes, even these little lambs can learn the bible. Lessons are age appropriate and enriching! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/30 to join this Women’s class.

The evening Women’s class is held on Mondays from 6:30-8:00 pm at CrossPoint church located next to Burlington Coat Factory at 1920 W. Dimond Blvd. Children ages 6-18 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week so it makes for great discussion at the dinner table! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/32 to join this Women’s class.

The evening Men’s class is held on Mondays from 6:55-8:15 pm at Faith Christian Community church located at 4240 Wisconsin Street in the Turnagain area. Children ages 6-18 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/31 to join this Men’s class.

The Women’s day class is held on Thursdays from 9:25-11:00 am downtown at First Baptist Church located at 1100 W. 10th Avenue downtown. Children ages 0-5 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week and yes, even these little lambs can learn the bible. Lessons are age appropriate and enriching! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/30 to join this Women’s class.

The evening Women’s class is held on Mondays from 6:30-8:00 pm at CrossPoint church located next to Burlington Coat Factory at 1920 W. Dimond Blvd. Children ages 6-18 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week so it makes for great discussion at the dinner table! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/32 to join this Women’s class.

The evening Men’s class is held on Mondays from 6:55-8:15 pm at Faith Christian Community church located at 4240 Wisconsin Street in the Turnagain area. Children ages 6-18 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/31 to join this Men’s class.

The Women’s day class is held on Thursdays from 9:25-11:00 am downtown at First Baptist Church located at 1100 W. 10th Avenue downtown. Children ages 0-5 are welcome and will be taught and study the same Bible passages each week and yes, even these little lambs can learn the bible. Lessons are age appropriate and enriching! Go online to https://www.bsfinternational.org/class/30 to join this Women’s class.